Drug use on Rest Room Change Tables

Absolutely disgusted to see clear evidence of drug use on rest room change tables. Visited a local Edmonton Restaurant, and went to change my son before we ate…. and found this on the change table. Blood, dirt, scratches — a gross mess!!

Informed the manager, who did deal with it promptly, but still disappointed in our society. It’s gross, and just plain dangerous!

Parents, beware of these change tables.

Restaurant Managers, please teach your staff to open these and clean them regularly before someone gets sick or hurt.

70 Responses

It’s disturbing but it’s reality. They can’t do much about it.
I have often left a place and changed my child in my vehicle or taken them home. I only use public washrooms when absolutely necessary. I try to avoid taking my kids in rhem.

No bleeding isn’t normal but baby’s/mom’s do get hurt occasionally and scratches may have been from diaper bag or any accessories they have in them. Or maybe someone was stupid and just carved on it for the fuck of it. Who knows.

I would never change my baby on that table don’t get me wrong, we’d be heading straight out for my vehicle but I wouldn’t think OMG drug use, I would say OMG disgusting and notify staff, instead of bitching on shout-out Edmonton ?!

You’ve never heard of Hep C? Even if I was cleaning that up, I’d be gloved to the elbow. And, just a swipe with a disinfecting agent wouldn’t clean it. I suspect the Board of Health would be interested.

Doreen Hernandez Hep C is a blood borne exposure meaning it can be passed from blood to blood, not blood to skin. So that means if your cleaning the table, u would need to cut ur arm open and rub the fresh blood into your wounds. And if the blood is dry, it probably would not get you Hep C. Also, this is why we need to clean our hands with soap and water for a full minute before a shift and after

Im pretty sure someone invented these things called change pads…. I used one about 5 years ago, not sure if they’re still around or not but they really helped prevent me from laying my kid on gross shit…..
Also you’re in a restaurant…. possibly ketchup or some other sauce….

Then in turn you turn around and clean your change pad right? Or do you fold it up into a nice little square, preserving the germs and stick it back in your bag, then when needed again you pull it out and touch it all over the place and then touch your child? Yeah, they are a perfect solution.

It’s an eye roll Jennifer Danielson. I’m beginning to think those disposable puppy pads might be a good way to go when out in public. Plastic on one side and a bit padded in the other. Then just throw them away.

Really? No way!! I had no idea, jeez, we are so incredibly lucky you were able to show us the way. I never used them so it really does not matter, I had no need to as I stated earlier so I am really not sure why you feel the need to share your wisdom and think I really care. The conversation is done, it was done 11 hours ago. Moving on….

Yeah…. blood dirt and scratches are evidence of drug use… what? People’s diaper bags, or any number of other things could cause scratches. Blood and dirt? Have you met kids? Seriously?

Unless you find packets of cocaine or white powder and confirm from experience that it’s not baby powder, it’s pretty unlikely that this stuff is from drugs. Someone needing some place to snort a line is far more likely to do it off the toilet paper dispenser. You know. Behind closed doors?

Well Karen. I’d say public washrooms are more or less 50/50 for that table being in a handicapped stall.

As for the “splatter” I’d say you see what you what to see. But instead I’ll ask you what kind of drug use do you think could create splatter like that? I mean needles are an obvious choice. But what do you need a table for needles? And why scratches on the table with needles? Scratching the surface like that would only dull the needle making it not only painful and difficult to inject in your arm but also dangerous as you’ll also inject plastic particulate.

Snorting coke? Well okay. Maybe blood there again? But a nose bleed will produce a different kind of splatter. Seriously. It is entirely just as likely to be either ketchup or… gasp. Spaghetti sauce.

Ok James. Next time I eat out, I’ll be sure to take my spaghetti sauce or ketchup into the bathroom, splatter the change table and close it up to scare poor unsuspecting parents into thinking its blood, and have a Good laugh about it. Sounds like a plan.

Yeah… Cuts and blood on change tables are evidence of proper baby changing… What? Have you ever seen drug use? Drug users? Seriously? Any number of razor blades can make deep, straight cuts in plastic.

Unless you find bottles upon bottles of baby powder, and can can confirm from experience that it is indeed not a drug, then its pretty unlikely that this stuff if from a baby powder bottle. Someone needing a place to change a baby is probably going to use somewhere besides the drug use table for something despicable like this.

I already clearly pointed out that any number of things can make those kinds of marks on a change table. The least of which, for all but one of them, would be a razor.

Have *you* ever done drugs? Seen any use? Because clearly you haven’t. No marks there look anything like drug use. Nobody is saying anything about proper baby changing. Does any vandalized bathroom stall mean that the offender is on drugs? You need to be on drugs to have a blade and vandalize public property? You’ve never scratched someone’s wall? Dragged something heavy and scuffed something up?

There isn’t any mention at all of any powder either! I asked Karen to explain to me by her apparent drug experience to explain to me what kind of drug use would explain those blood patterns and those scratches. I could have also asked how dirt factored into the drug use but I already know the assumption is that drug users are just dirty people. (And she also didn’t have an answer because there isn’t one. There’s nothing about that change table that indicates drugs. Not even in the least.)

So when I was exploring the two types of drugs use that would be most likely based on the idea that a table would be necessary, I made a point that there are any number of reasons for a white powder to be on a change table. So you have jumped to assuming there must be cocaine involved.

You are just another sheep Evan. Keep on believing everything your told.

Also. Nobody is talking about being nieve. Because that’s not a word. Naive on the otherhand. Yeah. Lots of people displaying that here. You more than most.

Oh crap, Kim-Ann you caught me. I am actually 100% fine changing my child on that table. As I’ve established somewhere in thus thread. Every parent has a set off wet wipes in their diaper bag. nearly every diaper bag I’ve ever seen has a change cloth. And even provided none of that was true. I’m not an invalid and am perfectly capable of wiping a surface clean. I am also able to think for myself. Most washrooms have paper towel, or toilet paper, and if not and the change table isn’t up to my personal cleanliness standards then I guess I’ll use the counter, or the floor. The only place I can expect to adhere to my personal cleanliness standards IS MY HOME. The very fact that any of those businesses have a bathroom and supply soap and paper towel etc, is a kindness and a luxury.

When changing an infants diaper, you are potentially facing the possibility of getting elbow deep in feces. And in the face of that, your constitution doesn’t hold up to dried red spots, some dirt and surface scratches? If it was wet goo-ey blood, or a used syringe sitting there, we might be having a different conversation. But it’s not. It’s a dirty change table. And a bunch of people jumping to assumptions without ANY evidence.

How do you know that it drugs use? Was there pot or a line of coke or white residue . Looks like ketchup to me , but if it is blood maybe a child hurt them selves in the restaurant . it’s gonna get scratched and dirt will be in the scratches. Don’t be so quick to judge to drugs .

actually she does; my office building is 5 blocks away from one in downtown. we still get the same people high as a kite under that bridge near the remand center. nice try sounding like you knew what you were talking about.

“They sometimes gather in a semi-public place such as the washroom of a fast-food restaurant or shopping mall to snort crushed tablets. (Warning to parents of babies: This is sometimes done on the change table in a public washroom. Opioids can be absorbed through the skin.)”

Coming from someone who used to live in downtown Vancouver I know what you’re both talking about and unfortunately not every addict will utilize these sites and you still will see used paraphernalia around and people using as well but the bottom line is these sites are still fairly new and it will get better over time. Nothing is immediate, change takes time. If you want such a quick easy fix do something about it yourself instead of sitting here trying to bash me saying I don’t know what I’m talking about when neither of you have a single clue.

Of course this kind of shit happens all the time, you’re not telling restaurant managers anything they don’t already know. But what the fuck do you expect restaurants to do that they aren’t doing?? They put the bathrooms on cleaning schedules (so they are cleaned regularly which means they probably didn’t get to the mess yet as it probably happened between cleanings), the staff are usually busy doing work to make money (like making and serving food) and you said yourself, they took care of it in a timely manner (they rectified the situation).

Of course it’s “disappointing” but, seriously, WHAT do you expect the restaurants to do other than that?

Like quit finding shit to complain about and go outside and get some fresh air…

At least it’s a readable post, and different and not boring. The posts that complain about drivers are very very unnecessary, so many of them and there’s nothing anyone can do after the fact that someone parked in a handicapped stall or that someone cut someone else off, literally completely pointless.

I think it is more directed to parents to be more observant. It’s not the restaurants fault that there is extremely dirty and scummy junkies out there who can’t find somewhere better to do their dirty work. You want to do drugs, that’s fine. That’s your own business. But clean up after yourself for fuck sakes!!!!! I think you need the fresh air. That is pretty fucked up either way you look at it. I’m glad someone is spreading the word about this nasty shit! Who cares who’s fault it is. Go do your shit somewhere else. It’s a fucking change table. It wasn’t installed for you junkies to snort your lines of meth or cocaine or whatever the fuck it is you put up your nose! Get a grip! Thank you to the OP for this post. It is greatly appreciated by all parents who have babies that have to pay their little ones in that shit just to give their child a clean bum. Parents beware.

I think it is necessary. I guess I am one of the “naive” people because I don’t live in the city but frequent it quite often. The places I go, its not like there are drug dealers and addicts hanging out holding the doors for us, so how would I know? I know it exists, to what extreme, of course not. I consider this a heads ups to be even more diligent of my surroundings.

Whoa
this was a warning to parents who arent aware
dont be a dick about it
n hell yes id be just as upset being a parent
Didn’t know changing your child in a safe environment was too much to ask
You need to stfu n sit down

Parents who aren’t aware aren’t suddenly going to be checking more fervently they aren’t even reading this article. And for the ones that already were checking, well you all have wet wipes in your diaper bag.

Restaurant managers aren’t going to be paying more attention. Drug users are absolutely holding doors open for you. They come in all shapes, sizes, colors, and functionalities.

Didn’t know asking to change your child in a safe environment was too much to ask? The only safe place you have a RIGHT to, is your home. You play with fire every single time you leave it. That’s the environment you have control over. That is a fact of life. No business or other parent is responsible for behaving by or providing, your standards.

In the same fashion as you all are allowed your opinion that this is a necessary post this commenter has EVERY right to an opinion that it isn’t. Further. This commenter’s post isn’t shaming parents or defending restaurant staff/management. Maybe you all should read it again. Instead of being insanely triggered and defensive over a comment on the Internet, maybe take his advise.

There are babies in the world who don’t even have diapers. Never mind, getting changed regularly, never mind having a nice cushy local air conditioned restaurant to go to, never mind a changing table for convenience, because got forbid a floor might be too dirty to change your kids dirty diaper on. Holy first world problems, Batman.